Container for tennis rackets and the like



June 16, 1925.

R. SMBLAIR CQNTAINER FOR RACKETS AND THE LIKE Filed Q6131 19. 1922 awvemtoz Patented June 16, 1925. 7

ROBERT S. BLAIR, OF STAMFORD, CONNEOTIOU'IT.

CONTAINER FOR TENNIS RACKETS AND THE LIKE.

Application filed October 19,1922. Serial No. 595,534.

To all whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, Bonner S. BLAIR, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Stamford, in the county of Fairfield and Stateof Connecticut, have invented an Improvement in Containers for Tennis Rackets and the like, of which the following is a specification. I

This invention relates to containers for tennis rackets and the like. One of the objects thereof is to provide a container in which an instrument such as a tennis racket may be reliably kept and maintained in its originally efiicient and serviceable condition. Another object is to provide such a container adapted to protect a tennis racket from damaging atmospheric conditions. Another object is to provide such a container the contents of which are safely shielded from moisture. Other objects will be in part obvious or in part pointed out herein after. v

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangements of parts as will be exemplified in the structure hereinafter set forth and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawing in which is shown one of the various possible embodiments of this invention,

Figure 1 is a plan View of a tennis racket container and contents, the hinged cover thereof being shown in open position and in perspective; and

Figure 2 is a sectional elevation taken substantially along the line 2+2 of Fig. 1, the cover being shown in closing'position.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts in both views of the drawin Referring now to the drawing in detail, the main body of the container comprises a receptacle 1() provided with a cover 11 hinged thereto as at 12. The cover 11 is preferably made to fit snugly upon the part 10 and the two parts are preferably shaped to overlap, as shown at 13 in Fig. 2, to assure a tight joint. Suitable clasps as at 1 1 are provided to secure the cover 11 in closed position, and a handle 15 may be provided to facilitate carrying of the container.

WVithin the container are provided means for supporting a number of tennis rackets 16, the number shown in this case being two. The supporting means preferably comprises a suitable press within which the string portions of the rackets are gripped and firmly held against warping. The press shown in the drawing comprises two sets of clamping plates 17, three in each set, arranged in ver-.

tical alignment as shown in 11g. 2 and intermediate of which the rackets are clamped as shown. The lowermost plate 1'? may be secured to the base of the container, if desirable. Suitable clamping bolts 18 pass through slots adj acent the ends of the plates 17 and are provided with wing nuts 19. The tennis rackets 16 are thus firmly held'in place and are furthermore clamped securely against '\varping. j

The rackets 16 are preferably supported in the container at an angle to its sides, as shown in Fig. 1, and there is provided a space at one end, in which is positioned a compartment 20. Within this compartment 20 is placed some hygroscopic or, more broadly speaking, some moistuieabsorptive material such as unslaked lime, for example. The wall of the compartment 20 toward the tennis rackets is made of fine wire netting 21 so that the air within the container has ready the lime is prevented from escaping from the compartment 20 to any substantial degree. Instruments such as tennis rackets, asis well known, are easily damaged by moisture and ordinarily it is highly necessary that they be kept in a dry atmosphere when not in use if it is desired that they retain their usefulness. The lime within the compartment 20 absorbs any moisture that may be in the air within the. container about the tennis rackets and they are thus protected from any danger of dampness. A snugly fitting lid 22 is provided for the compartment 20 to permit insertion of the unslaked lime and removal thereof when it has become slaked and is no longer useful. The cover 11 being fitted snugly substantially excludes the outside air and a supply of lime within the compartment 20 keeps the atmosphere within the container dry for a long time in ordinary usage before it becomes slaked and a fresh supply is required.

It will thus be seen that there is herein provided a device which embodies the various features of this invention, which device in its action attains the various objects of the invention and is well adapted to meet the requirements of practical use.

As many possible embodiments may be access to the lime and yet made of the above invention and as many changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter hereinbefore set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim as my invention 1. A container for tennis rackets comprising in combination, a substantially tight casing, means therein adapted to support a tennis racket, a moisture absorptive material within said casing exposed to the air therein to absorb moisture therefron'i and means restraining said material from moving about within said casing into contact with said 'acket.

2. A container for tennis rackets comprising in combination, a substantially tight casing, means therein adapted to support a tennis racket, a compartment within said casing adapted to receive a moisture absorptive material; and means separating the interior of said compartment from the remainder of the interior of said casing adapted to permit access to said absorptive material of the air about said tennis racket and adapted to prevent exit of said material from said compartn'ient toward said tennis racket.

3. A container for tennis rackets comprising in combination a substantially tight casing, means therein adapted to support a tennis racket, and a compartment within said casing adapted to receive a moisture absorptive material, the interior of said compartment being separated from the remainder of the interior of said casing by a fine wire screen to permit access of air to said absorptive material and to prevent the latter from gaining access to said racket.

4. A container for tennis rackets comprising in combination, a substantially tight casing, means therein adapted to support a tennis racket, and a compartment built into one corner of said casing and adapted to receive a moisture absorptive material, said compartment having its wall facing said tennis racket comprised of a line wire netting and having a hinged cover to permit insertion of moisture absorptive material to said compartment and removal of the same therefrom.

5. A container for tennis rackets comprising in combination, a substantially tight casing, hold in shape tennis rackets, a compartn'ient formed within said casing adapted to re ceive a moisture absorptive material, said compartment having a wall comprising a line wire screen adapted to retain said material within said compartment and permit access thereto of the air about said tennis racket.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification this 14th day of October 1922.

ROBERT S. BLAIR.

a press therein adapted to grip and I 

